News

'The NHS is not just doctors and nurses': five hidden roles

12 September 2018

Incoming AAPT Council member Lakiesha Ward featured in the Guardian

When I tell people what I do, they’re intrigued and curious. People often ask: “How could you do that on children?” I always point out that nurses care for the child on the ward and we care for them in the mortuary.

When a child comes to us, we have to place them in a fridge to stop them decomposing and preserve their appearance. A routine postmortem can take half an hour, but some take up to two hours. Sometimes lots of samples have to be taken and there’s a lot of stopping and starting and taking photographs.